Hand grip switch device



Allg 7, 1945. T. o'BrszARNY 2,381,077

HAND GRIP SWITCH DEVICE Filed May 2, 19214 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug- 7,1945- T. oBszARNY l HAND GRIP SWITCH DEVICE Filed May 2, 1944 2sheets-sheet 2 5017 lieg Z cuits, and wherein the switches are arrangedto ally operated control member positioned so that 'relatively wideiield of use, and are especially communicationsystem, and variousotherdevices 'and mechanisms.

ent invention may be employed for controlling -ing maximum safety andconvenience to the pilot tional `pressure on said member.

Patented Aug-.7, 1945 AUNITE!) s'mnasA PATENT oFrlcE HAND GRIP SWITCHDEVICE Thedore LObsiarnyff/` Chicago, Ill., assign'or to GuardianElectric Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication `May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,733

s claims. (01.200-'1) The present invention relates to hand grip controlswitches of the type comprising al, plurality of grip control switch,comprising a double switch switches for controlling separate electricalcirassembly and a single manually operated control member positioned sothat upon initial movement of said member, one electrical circuit iscom'pleted, and upon further movement of said mem-v ber, a, secondelectrical circuit is completed, together with detent means forreleasably opposing such further movementl of the operating member, withthe detent means constructed and 'ar- -ranged for varying the pressurerequiredto be ex-y be actuated by control members which are n formed andpositioned to be manipulated by the iinger and/or thumb of the opera or.VI-Iand grip switches of this general class are adapted to a suitablefor use in connection Vwith control stick," or as a part of a controlwheel of an airplane so that the pilot may instantly and ponvenientlyactuate .the switches for controllng electrical circuits for operationof various devic s or mechanisms, without the necessity of the pilo ksuch further movement thereof.

J Other objects and advantages of this invention lo will be apparentfrom the iollowing descripiton, removing his handfrom the grip. Switchesof ytaken in connection l.with ,the accompanying the hand `grip type,when yused on airplanes, may drawings in which-L l be employed forcontrolling the operation'of the AFigure 1 is a side elevational view,part in seclanding gear, the landing lights, radio, interplane `\tion,of the hand grip ContlOl Switch embodying the present invention. y

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the inner f face of the hand gripcontrol switch.

' Figure 3 is a top view thereof.

Figure 4,is an enlarged, staggered, horizontal section through the upperend of the hand grip v control switch, taken substantially as indicatedat line 4-4 on Figure l.

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical, staggered sections through the hand gripcontrol switch, taken substantially as indicated at lines 5--5 and 6 6respectively on Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the switch ngers andtheir connection to conductor wires of electrical circuits to becontrolled thereby.

The hand grip control switch, embodying the present invention', includesa body I0 of suitable contour, to provide ymaximum convenience ingrippingby the hand of an operator. The lower end of the body, it may beunderstood, is formed so as to permit securement to the upper end of aconventional control stick of an airplane, or a lever for controllingother apparatus, and when such grips are used in connection with acontrol wheel of an airplane, the grips are removably mounted atopposite sides of the upper end portions of a conventional figure eighttype of control wheel."-

The interior of the body of the hand grip is :formed with a cavityorchamber Il, the upper f end of which` is in communication with anopening l2, formed in the forward side of said body. As will bepresently described, a pre-assembled switch structure is adapted to beinserted through the opening I2, and secured in position in the Inconnection with military planes, hand grip control switches of the typeembodying the prestheoperationl of various armaments, while affordindispensing with the necessity of the pilot removing his hand from thecontrol stick or control wheel when it is desired to cause oper'- ationof such armaments. This advantage is of utmost importance when it isnecessary to operate such armaments during the time that the plane istravelling at high rates of speed, because it at all times permits thepilot to maintain proper and safe 'control of the plane. 3

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved hand gripcontrol switch, com'- prising a double switch assembly, and asingle jmanually operated control member, positioned so thatfwlen it isinitially moved, it causes completion 'of one electrical circuit, andupon further movement, in addition, effects completion of anotherelectrical circuit.

Another object .is to provide an improved control switch of thecharacter indicated, comprising a double switch assembly and a singlemanuupon initial movement of said member one elec" trical circuit iscompleted, andV upon further movement, in addition, a second electricalcircuit is completed, together with, detent means Yfor yieldingly andreleasably opposing such furtherv movement of thev operating memberuntil said' detent means is overcome bythe exertion of addi- A furtherobject is to provide an improved hand erted by the operating' member forpermitting cavity of the body. A finger operating member I4, of.trigger-like formation, is pivotally mounted at its upper end on a pinI5, as clearly seen in the drawings. The upper end` of the trigger, asindicated at I4a, constitutes an abutment and is adapted in the freeposition of said finger, to abut against, a shoulder 12a, forming theupper wall of the opening I2 in which the trigger is mounted, so as tolimit the outward movement of the trigger. The inner portion of thetrigger is provided with a cam type of abutment I4b for actuating aportion of the switch mechanism and which yieldingly returns the triggerto the position seen in Figure l of the drawings.

Mounted in the top of the head Illa of the hand grip is a depressibleplug or plunger member I6, the lower end of which is formed with aflanged button head |641, positioned for actuating another portion ofthe switch mechanism; the flange I6a engaging the wall of the cavity IIand serving to limit the upward movement of the plug I6.

The switch assembly is mounted within the cavity of the hand grip in amanner to permit convenient removal therefrom for repair or re-Aplacement, and is preferably formed as a unitary assembly. The switchassembly comprises con- 4 tact fingers 20, 2I, 22, 23 and 24, which areof elongated formation, and are formed of relatively resilient material.Said contact fingers are initially formed with vertical portions, andcontact portions extending substantially transverse to the verticalportions, and normally disposed in spaced apart relation as clearly seenin Figure 1 of the drawings. 'I'he vertical portions of the Contactfingers are rigidly connected together in insulated relation by suitableeyelet rivets, not shown, in a manner well understood in the art; andthe switch assembly is rigidly mounted within the cavity by a pair ofscrews 26 which are threaded into a retainer plate 21 positioned againstthe inner face of the stack switch assembly. 4

The adjacent faces of the free end portions of the contact fingers 20and 2l are provided with cooperating contact buttons 20a and 2 Ia, andthe adjacent faces of the free end of the contact finger 2l and thefinger 22 are provided with contact buttons 2lb and 22h respectively,and the adjacent faces of the free ends of the contact fingers 23 and 24are also provided with cooperating contact buttons 23o and 24orespectively. All

of the contact fingers with the exception of contact fingers 22 and 23,are movable. The Contact finger 22, which for convenience may be termedan auxiliary finger, has the outer end of the transverse portion thereofrigidly attached, by means of a screw 28, to the shoulder 12a, formingthe wall of the opening I2 in the hand grip body, The contact iinger 23is substantially stationary, the contact carrying portion of which maybe permitted to iiex slightly in a downward direction to the extent ofits own inherent flexibility, together with the flexibility of theadjacent portion of the stationary contact finger 22.

Contact fingers 20, 2| and 22 constitute a double switch adapted to becontrolled by the trigger member I4, and the Contact fingers 23 and 24constituting a single switch adapted to be controlled by depressing theplug I6.

The extreme outer end of the transverse portion of the contact finger 20is formed to ride camwise upon the abutment I4b of the trigger memberI4, and urges the trigger to the position seen in Figure l. Thetransverse portion of the contact finger 24 slidingly engages the buttonhead IGa of the plug I6, and due to the inherent resiliency of saidiiriger 24, it normally maintains the plug I6 in the position seen inFigure 1 of the drawings. Due to the inherent resiliency of the formedtransverse portions of the contact fingers, their free ends are disposedin spaced relation with their cooperating contact buttons out ofengagement with each other, as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings,

The contact finger 2l is normally releasably restrained against upwardmovement by detent means mounted in the head IIla of the body I0. Thedetent means includes a plunger member 32, the lower end of whichyieldingly engages the outer free end of the transverse portion of saidcontact finger 2| under pressure of a coil spring 33. The coil springand plunger are mounted within a sleeve 36 which is press-fitted intothe top or the head of the hand grip body. The lower end of the sleeveends downwardly through an opening in the outer end of the auxiliarycontact finger 22, and the upper end of said sleeve is externallythreaded and is engaged by a cup-shaped nut 35. By turning of the nut,the pressure of the spring 33, acting on the plunger 32, may be variedto increase or decrease the pressure, opposing upward movement of thetransverse portion of the contact finger 2I.

The body of the plunger 32, intermediate its length, is formed with anannular groove 31, in which is normally seated a ball check member 39,under pressure of a coil spring 4D. The spring 40, and ball 39, areconfined within a sleeve 42, extending horizontally through one side ofthe head of the body, and press-fitted therein. The inner end of thesleeve preferably fits into an opening 43 formed inthe wall of theupright sleeve 34 so as to insure proper guidance for the ball 39 intoand out of engagement with the groove 31 of theplunger 32. Pressure onthe spring 4|) is maintained by a stud 45, threaded into the outer endof the sleeve 42, and a lock nut 41 is mounted on the outer end of thestud, abutting against a shoulder on the side of the head of thehandgrip body for locking the stud 45 in a desired position of adjustmentfor exerting a predetermined spring pressure on the ball 39.

In the operation of the double switch composed i 20a into cooperativeengagement with the contact button 2Ia of the contact finger 2l, to

complete an electrical circuit. While the yield-` able plunger 32 tendsto maintain the contactl finger 2| in a fixed position by the action ofthe spring Apressed check ball 39, it will be apparent that upon furtherinward movement of the trig ger I4, overcoming the forces of the detentmeans. the two contact fingers 20 and 2I` move as a unit in an upwarddirection, and causes the contact finger 2l to dispose its contactbutton 2lb into cooperative engagement with contact button 22h of theauxiliary contact finger 22 to complete another electrical circuit. Suchupward movement of the free end of contact finger 2| is permitted whenthe ball 39 is forced out of the groove 31 of the plunger 32. Hence thespring pressed ball check 39 serves to provide a releasable stop ordetent for precluding movement of the contact finger 2l, untilsuflicient pressure is exerted on the trigger member I4 to overcomethepressure exerted by the ball check 39, which tends to normally retainthe plunger 32 in the position of adjustment, as seen in Figure 1 of thedrawings.

By virtue of the adjustment for varying the pressure of the spring 40, Iprovide a releasable detent for the trigger member |4 which is capableof satisfying the particular or individual preferences of the operatoror pilot. Some operators may prefer that the trigger member wheninitially actuated to complete an electrical circuit through the contactfingers 20 and 2|, to abut against a substantial stop, so as to requirea substantial amount of pressure to be exerted on the trigger member topermit further movement thereof and effect completion of anotherelectrical circuit through the contact finger 2| and auxiliary contactfinger 22. Others may prefer a relatively light opposing force, servingas a releasable stop against the actuation of the switch finger 2|.

By virtue of the hand grip control switch embodying the presentinvention, it is possible to first effect completion of one electricalcircuit by initial movement of the trigger member |4, and upon furthermovement of the trigger member to complete, in addition, a secondelectrical circuit. A Ithird electrical circuit may be completed bydepressing the plunger I6 for moving the contact finger 24 downwardly tocause its contact button 24e to operatively engage contact button 23c ofthe finger 23.

I have shown schematically in the wiring diagram of Figure '7, therespective contact fingers and their relationship to each other. Byvirtue of my novel construction it is possible, by the use of only fourconductor wires, extending up into the hand grip and connected to therespective contact fingers, to control three separate electricalcircuits. As shown, the contact finger 20 is connected to a conductorwire 50, the contact finger 2| is connected to a conductor wire theauxiliary contact finger 22 is connected to a conductor wire 52, thecontact finger 23 is connected to the conductor wire 5|, while thecontact finger 24 is connected to a conductor wire 53. It is to beunderstood that the conductor wires are connected to suitable terminals(not shown) of said contact fingers, and are encased in a sheath 54,extending downwardly in the cavity and emerging from the lower end ofthe body, for connection to a suitable source of power and to devices orapparatus to be controlled by the electrical circuits including theswitches. When the contact fingers 2|] and 2| are engaged an electricalcircuit is completed through the conductor wires 50 and 5|; when thecontact finger 2| and auxiliary contact finger 22 are engaged anotherelectrical circuit is completed between the conductor wires 5| and 52,and when the contact fingers 23 and 24 are engaged, an electricalcircuit is completed between the conductor wires 5| and 53.

To avoid possible injury to the hand of the pilot when operating theplane -at high altitudes or in lower temperatures, it is Preferred thatthe body of the hand grip Ill, as well as the trigger member |4 andplunger IB, be formed of suitable heat insulating material. It is alsopreferred that after the unitary switch assembly has been rigidlysecured in place by the screws 26, that the recessed areas, providingclearance for the heads of the screws, be filled with suitable heatinsulating compound, such as a wax or asphalt composition.

CII

Although I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not,therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to theprecise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited bythe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly fixedly mounted in acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising an elongatedauxiliary finger, and two elongated, flexible and movable fingersdisposed in aligned relation to the auxiliary finger, said ngers beingiixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart y relation to each other andto the corresponding end of the auxiliary finger, the adjacent faces ofsaid last mentioned ends of said fingers being provided with cooperatingcontact buttons, a `movable operating member carried by the body andpositioned to engage the free end of the outermost movable finger,whereby initial movement of said member exerts pressure on the free endof the latter finger and moves it into cooperating engagement with thefreeA end of the other movable finger, and further movement of saidmember causes the free ends of said movable fingers to move as a unitand causes said other movable finger to cooperatively engage saidauxiliary finger, and detent means acting on said other movable nger forreleasably opposing such further movement of the operating member.

2. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly'fixedly mounted in a cavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising an elongatedauxiliary finger, and two elongated, flexible and movable fingersdisposed in aligned relation to the auxiliary finger, said fingers beingfixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other and tothe corresponding end of the auxiliary finger, the adjacent faces ofsaid last mentioned ends of said fingers being provided with cooperatingcontact buttons, a movable operating member carried by the body andpositioned to engage the free end of the outermost smovable finger,whereby initial movement of said member exerts pressure on the free endof the latter nger and moves it into cooperating engagement with thefree end of the other movable finger, and further movement of saidmember causes the free ends of said movable fingers to move as a unitand causes said other movable finger to cooperatively engage saidauxiliary iinger, detent means acting on said other movable finger forreleasably opposing such further movement of the operating member, andmeans for varying the pressure exerted by said detent means for opposingsuch further movement of said operating member.

3. A switch device of the character described. comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly fixedly mountedin acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising an elongatedauxiliary finger, and two elongated, flexible and movable fingersdisposed in aligned relation to the auxiliary finger, said fingers beingflxedly secured at one corresponding end to said body in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable iingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other and tothe corresponding end of the auxiliary finger, the adjacent faces ofsaid last mentioned ends of said fingers being provided with cooperatingContact buttons, a movable operating member carried by the body andpositioned to engage the free end of the outermost movable finger,whereby initial movement of said member exerts pressure on the free endof the latter finger and moves it into cooperating engagement with thefree end of the other movable finger, and further movement of saidmember causes the free ends of said movable fingers to move as a unitand causes said other movable finger to cooperatively engage saidauxiliary finger, and detent means for normally positioning said othermovable finger out of engagement with the movable finger and serving toreleasably oppose movement thereof toward the auxiliary iinger.

4. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly fixedly mounted in acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising an elongatedauxiliary finger, and two elongated, flexible and movable fingersdisposed in aligned relation to the auxiliary linger, said fingers beingfixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other andIto the corresponding end of the auxiliary finger, the adjacent faces ofsaid last mentioned ends of said fingers being provided with cooperatingcontact buttons, a movable operating member carried by the body andpositioned to engage the free end of the outermost movable finger,whereby initial movement of said member exerts pressure on the free endof the latter linger and moves it into cooperating engagement with thefree end of the other movable finger, and further movement of saidmember causes the free ends of said movable fingers to move as a unitand causes said other mova'ble finger to cooperatively engage saidauxiliary finger, and detent means acting on said other movable fingerfor releasalbly opposing such further movement of the operating member,said detent means comprising a spring pressed plunger engaging said freeend of said other finger and having a circumferential grooveintermediate its length, and a spring pressed ball normally seated insaid groove for normally precluding movement of the spring pressedplunger until the pressure acting on the free end of said other fingerexceeds a predetermined amount.

5. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly iixedly mounted in acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising an elongatedauxiliary finger, and two elongated, flexible and movable fingersdisposed in aligned relation to the auxiliary finger, said fingers beingfixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other and tothe corresponding end of the auxiliary ringer, the adjacent faces ofsaid last mentioned ends of said fingers being provided with cooperatingcontact buttons, a movable operating member carried by the body andpositioned to engage the free end of the outermost movable finger,whereby initial movement of said member exerts pressure on the free endof the latter finger and moves it into cooperating engagement with thefree end of the other movable finger, and further movement of saidmember causes the free ends of said movable fingers to move as a unitand causes said other movable finger to cooperatively engage saidauxiliary finger, and detent mea-ns acting on said other movable fingerfor releasably opposing such further movement of the operating member,said detent means comprising a spring pressed plunger engaging said freeend of said other finger and having a circumferential grooveintermediate its length, a spring pressed ball normally seated in saidgroove for normally precluding movement of the spring pressed plungeruntil the pressure acting on the free end of said other finger exceeds apredetermined amount, and means fo-r varying the spring pressure on saidball for varying the predetermined pressure required to permit movementof the free end of said other finger into engagement with the auxiliaryfinger.

6. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly fixedly mounted in acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising a doubleswitch and a single switch, the double switch comprising an elongatedstationary finger, two elongated, fiexible and movable fingers disposedin aligned relation with and at one side of the stationary finger, thesingle switch comprising a relatively stationary elongated ringerdisposed adjacent the opposite side of the stationary finger of thedouble switch, and an elongated, flexible and movable finger, thefingers of the single switch being aligned with the fingers of thedouble switch, the fingers of said double and single switches beingfixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body, in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other andsaid stationary fingers, the adjacent faces of the fingers of the doubleswitch and the fingers of the single switch being provided withcooperating contact buttons, an operating member for controlling thedouble switch carried by the body and positioned .to engage the free endof the outermost movable finger of said double switch, whereby initialmovement of said member exerts pressure on the free end of the latterfinger and moves it into contacting engagement with `the free end of theother movable finger, and further movement of said member causes thefree ends of said movable fingers to move as a unit and cause contactingengagement of said other movable finger with the stationary finger ofthe double switch, and an operating element for the single switch.carried by the body and normally engaging the movable finger of saidsingle switch, whereby movement of said element causes said latterfinger to move into oontacting engagement with the stationary finger ofthe single switch,

'7. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in thefor-m of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly fixedly mounted in acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising a doubleswitch and a single switch, the double switch comprising an elongatedstationary finger, two elongated, iiexible and movable fingers disposedin aligned relation with and at one side of the' stationary finger, thesingle switch comprising a relatively stationary elongated fingerdisposed adjacent the opposite side of the stationary finger of thedo-uble switch, and an elongated, flexible and movable finger, thefingers of the single switch being aligned with the fingers of thedouble switch, the fingers of said double and single switches beingiixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body, in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other andsaid stationary fingers, the adjacent faces of the lingers of the doubleswitch and the lingers of the single switch being provided withcooperating Contact buttons, an operating member for controlling rthedouble switch carried by the body and positioned to engage the free endof the outermost movable finger of said double switch, whereby initialmovement of said member exerts pressure on the free end of the latterfinger and moves it into contacting engagement With'the free end of theother movable nger, and further movement of said member causes the freeends of said movable fingers to move as a unit and cause contactingengagement of said other movable finger with the stationary finger ofthe double switch, detent means acting on said other movable finger ofthe double switch for releasably opposing movement of the free endthereof, and an operating element for the single switch, carried by thebody and normally engaging the movable finger of said single switch,whereby movement of said element causes said latter finger to move intocontacting engagement with the stationary finger of the single switch.

8. A switch device of the character described, comprising a body in theform of a hand grip, a unitary switch assembly fiXedly mounted in acavity formed in said body, said switch assembly comprising a doubleswitch and a single switch, the double switch comprising an elongatedstationary finger, two elongated, flexible and movable fingers disposedin aligned relation with and at one side of the stationary finger, thesingle switch comprising a relatively stationary elongated fingerdisposed adjacent the opposite side of the stationary finger of thedo-uble switch, and an elongated, flexible and movable finger, thefingers of the single switch being aligned with the fingers of thedouble switch, the fingers of said double and single switches beingfixedly secured at one corresponding end to said body, in insulatedrelation to each other, the opposite ends of said movable fingers beingfree and normally disposed in spaced apart relation to each other andsaid stationary fingers, the adjacent faces of the fingers of the doubleswitch and the fingers of the single switch being provided withcooperating contact buttons, an operating member for controlling thedouble switch carried by the body and positioned to engage the free endof the outermost movable finger of said double switch, whereby initialmovement of said member exerts pressure on the free end of the latterfinger and moves it into contacting engagement with the free end of theother movable finger, and further movement of said member causes thefree ends of said movable fingers to move as a unit and cause contactingengagement of said other movable finger with the stationary finger ofthe double switch, detent means acting on said other movable finger ofthe double switch for releasably opposing movement of the free endthereof, means for varying the pressure exerted by said detent means foropposing movement of said other movable finger, and an operating elementfor the single switch carried by the body and normally engaging themovable finger of said single switch, whereby movement of said elementcauses said latter finger to move into contacting engagement with thestationary finger of the single switch. THEDORE OBSZARNY.

